Page 10 of Magic and Muffins

Accepting the card, I added it to the payment method then returned it to him.

I’d barely finished placing a small order when Vena raced back inside with a pamphlet in her hands and Anchor only a few steps behind.

“Someone just gave me this. He’s handing them out to everyone. It’s not just pro-vamp propaganda this time. It’s anti-werewolf. They’re trying to label you as killers and ‘the real threat to humanity.’”

Cross stood and took the pamphlet.

“There’s a link to a video,” he said.

My stomach sank as he looked at Shepard with concern in his gaze.

CHAPTERTHREE

“Vampires are friends,”I said, reading the headline of the pamphlet in disbelief. “Where did you get this?”

“Right outside,” Vena said. “Keep reading.”

“Werewolves are the killers and the real threat to humanity,” I said, reading for the group. “You’ve been fed a lie. Don’t believe it? Watch the video and decide for yourself.”

I looked from the QR code to Vena. “Did you watch the video?”

“No. I scanned the rest of the pamphlet and ran back in here.”

As she answered, Cross used his phone to scan the QR code. It opened a video recording that looked like it was from a security camera inside someone’s well-lit house.

I watched the door to the home burst open and a group of men rush in. The people who’d been relaxing on the couch bolted to their feet.

Everyone moved so fast. But for some, not fast enough. Shouting, screaming, and growls rang out from Cross’ phone as the men inside the home had their hearts ripped out within seconds.

My stomach twisted at the sight.

“They were newly turned,” Cross said.

One wolf turned toward something off camera view. He disappeared from the frame only to return a second later, dragging a woman younger than me by her arm. She was sobbing and begging him not to kill her.

I squeezed my eyes shut before she screamed then went quiet.

Vena pulled me into a comforting hug as she said, “It looks like the vampires are trying to make werewolves into the bad guys. That video makes a convincing argument. Keep reading, Cross. But maybe to yourself.”

“They’re recruiting through Night Club meetings,” Cross said after a few moments.

I opened my eyes when Vena handed me over to Cross. “I apologize for not turning off the video.”

“It’s okay. We need to know what they’re doing.” Yet I knew the image of that man dragging the young woman into the room would haunt my dreams for weeks.

Shepard was watching the video on his phone—silently this time. His visible weariness had doubled.

“Is this Orphia making good on her promise?” I asked, recalling the threats she’d made during our meeting with Hugh, Queen Effora, and King Curran.

“Likely,” Cross said.

“We need to stop her before this escalates,” Vena said. “Everly and I should go to a Night Club meeting. It’s the best lead we have to find her.”

Anchor drew Vena into the cage of his arms, hugging her as much as confining her. “It’s also the most dangerous.”

“She’s obviously trying to replenish her numbers with this propaganda,” Vena said.

“It’s an effective tactic,” Cross said. “She’ll gain sympathy with that video. More people are likely to attend the meeting simply to learn about the aggressive side of your kind, Shepard. We need to inform Hugh.”

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